…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
Months after the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria, Omoyele Sowore, the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate, raised doubts about the legitimacy of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory.
Speaking at a symposium organized by the AAC Women Wing in Lagos State, Sowore contended that Tinubu was not elected as proclaimed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but rather selected.
Lack of Election and Disrupted Democracy Day Celebrations
Sowore expressed his belief that he did not lose the election because there was no legitimate election conducted in 2023.
Due to the events that unfolded during the general elections, Sowore argued that Nigerians couldn’t celebrate Democracy Day that year.
He criticized the administration of President Tinubu for swiftly removing fuel subsidy after assuming power, suggesting that Tinubu’s priorities were self-serving and did not address pressing national issues.
Exploitation of the Lagos Model of Democracy
Highlighting his concerns about Tinubu’s leadership, Sowore criticized the President’s focus on exploiting the “Lagos model of democracy” and nationalizing it in Abuja.
He accused Tinubu of prioritizing personal interests over crucial matters such as combating Boko Haram insurgency and banditry in the country.
Sowore referred to this approach as “agberocracy,” emphasizing the negative impact it had on the common people.
Progress Based on Right Leadership, Not Tribal Politics
Sowore emphasized that Nigeria’s progress, particularly that of the Yoruba people, does not depend on tribal politics but on having the right individuals in power.
He pointed out that the country had experienced significant progress under the leadership of individuals with strong character, such as Awolowo, rather than those who resorted to forceful tactics.
Claims of Selection, Not Election, and AAC’s Significance
Sowore asserted that the 2023 election was not a fair election but a selection process.
He refuted any notion that he was speaking out because he lost the election, stating that his concerns stemmed from the lack of a legitimate electoral process.
Sowore highlighted the disproportionate focus on his party, the AAC, by those in power, showing their disregard for the other 17 candidates who participated in the election.